Stalk-cutter.



Patented July 22, I902.

M. D; WILLIAMS. 'STALK CUTTER.

lApplicatibn filed on. 15, 1901.

2 sheets sheet I.

(No Model.)

WMQQUWM Patented July 22, I902.

M. D. WILLIAMS.

STALK CUTTER.

(Application filed Oct. '15, 1901.

2 Shaets-$het 2.

- (No Model.)

lhvrrnn fi'rarns Parent tribe.

MARK l). \VILLIAMS, OF SIDNEY, TEXAS.

STALM CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,183, dated. July 22, 1902 Application filed October 15,1901- Serial No. 78,729. (No model.)

T0 (0 whom; it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MA K D. WILLIAns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Comanche and State of:

Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in stalk-cutters, and pertains to a machine which is adapted to out three rows of stalks at one operation and is provided with simple means for laterally extending the side outters to permit the adjustment ofthe machine to cut rows of different widths.

A further object consists in simple means for detaching the side cutters when it is desired to lighten the draft, in which case the machine will out only one row.

My invention relates to a construction and combination of parts, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the central section detached and reversed. r

In the construction of my machine I employ three rectangular sections, in which the numerals 1, 2, and 3 designate the longitudinal side bars, the bars 2 of the central section being united at their ends by transverse bars 4. and 5, through which pass bolts 6, for a purpose to be presently explained. The bars 4. and 5 are mortised to receive the inner end of the tongue 7, a vertical bolt serving to secure the tongue therein. An intermediate cross-bar 8 serves to further brace the central section and at the same time form a weight receptacle or box 9, a bottom plate 10 being attached in any suitable manner. Bolts 11, which pass through vertical openings in each end of the side bars 2, serve to secure at one end upwardly-extending springs 12, which support a seat of any desired construction, and at the opposite end hounds 13, which are bent to brace the tongue 7 and secured. thereto by means of a bolt 14. Fastened to the lower side of the bars 2 are bearingboXes 15, in which I journal a solid roller 16, having a series of laterally extending arms 17, to which are rigidly attached longitudinal cutting-blades 18.v The outersections are formed. by providing intermediate transverse bars 18 and transverse bars 19, which unite the ends of the side bars 1 and 3, respectively, and extend to the center of the central section, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 1. The inner ends of the bars 19 are provided with a series of transverse holes or openings 19, adapted to register with the openings in the bars at and 5 to receive the bolts 6 when it is desired to laterally extend the outer sections to cut rows of different widths, the central portion of the three sections being connected by bolts 21. Washers or blocks 22 are carried by the bolts 21, and when the outer sections are extended the blocks or washers 22 are placed between the sections, as shown in Fig. 3. Braces or rods 23 are bent to embrace the tongue 7 and. secured thereto by the bolt 14 and have their outer ends connected to the outer ends of the bars 19 by bolts 11, a series of openings 30 being provided in the rods25 to permit the lateral adjustment of the outer sections.

The space between the transverse bars 18 and 19 is closed at the bottom,forming weightboxes 24 and 25 in the front portion of the outer sections. In the rear of the outer sections and attached to the under side of the longitudinal bars 1 and 3 are bearing-bones 26, in which are journaled rollers 27, having laterally-extending arms 28, to which are bolted the curved cutting-knives 29, which are arranged spirally thereon.

In order that a machine of this character may operate to cut stalks of a large growth, it is necessary that it be heavy, and therefore when operating in stalks of light growth the team is required to drag an unnecessary load. It will be seen that my arrangement of weight-boxes enables the operator to regulate the weight according to the character of the stalks and enables me to produce a comparatively light machine well adapted for the purpose set forth.

In operating my invention to out three rows of stalks, as illustrated in Fig. 1,the cutters are regulated laterally to cut rows of different widths by means of the bolts 6," 21, and 14, as heretofore explained. The machine is then drawn forward, causing the rollers 16 and 27 to rotate, when the knives will be forced through the stalks. Two of the weight-boxes being in the forward portion of the machine and one weight-box, together with the weight of the driver, in the rear portion, the pressure can be regulated to all portions of the machine as desired.

When it is desired to reduce the draft on the team, the outer sections can be easily detached by removing the bolts 6, 21, and 14, the bolt 14 being replaced after the rods 23 are detached. Thenuts on the bolts 11 and on the bolt through theinner end of the t on gue are then removed, and the hounds l3 and the springs 12, which support the seat, are exchanged, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6, after which the nuts are replaced. The machine is then adapted to out only one row,

, the seat and tongue being reversed or exchanged in order to bring the weight-box in front to equalize the weight of the driver, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A stalk-cutter comprising three rectangular frames, adjustable means for uniting the said frames, the transverse rollers 16 and 27 journaled within the frames and provided with outwardly-extending cutter-blades, the Weight-boxes 9, 24 and 25, adapted to receive weights for regulating the pressure of the cutting-blades, substantially as described.

ing the outer ends of said brace-rods to the side sections, substantially as described.

3. A stalk-cutting apparatus, comprising three rectangular sections, the central section adapted to be detached and used independently, a draft-beam adapted to be secured to either end of the central section, hounds having their outer ends secured to the draft-beam and their inner ends detachably secured to the central section, bearingboXes secured to the under side of the three sections, rollers journaled therein, arms carried by said rollers, cutting-blades secured to the arms and extending longitudinally of the central rollers, spirally arranged cuttingblades secured to the arms carried by the side rollers, inwardly-extending arms carried by the side sections and having a series of openings therein, bolts for securing said arms to the central section, brace-rods having their outer ends fastened to the draft-beam and their inner ends having a series of openings, and bolts passing through said openings and the side sections, and bolts passing through the side section and the central section for securing the same together, substantially as described.

4. A stalk-cutter comprising a central cutting-section, a draft-beam adapted to be secured to either end of said section, detachable side sections secured to the central section, and an adjustable connection between said side sections and the draft-beam, substantially as described.

5. A stalk-cutter comprising a central cut,- ting-section, a draft-beam adapted to be secured to either end of said section, side sections on each side of said central sections, means for adjustably securing the side sections to or from the central section and adj ustable connection between said side section and the draft-beam, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affig: my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARK D. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

H. R. LAoY, J. N. MORTON. 

